In this report, some summaries of Referral to Treatment Time (RTT), with a focus on NHS providers in the North region, are presented. The summaries are based on the Referral to Treatment Time Index (RTTI).
Please, refer to the documentation of RTTI for definitions, examples and other details.
This report is based on RTT data from the NHS website , which includes data up to May, 2025.
All visual displays in this report, tables and graphs are interactive.
By hovering with the mouse over graphs, further information is displayed.
Interactivity in tables is given through the ability to filter by values in certain columns.
The table of contents, on the left side of this document, is also interactive. Click on a section to expand its subsections and navigate the document. Some subsections are tabbed.
Some acronyms used
This section presents summaries of waiting times on May, 2025.
The boxplots show RTTI for each medical specialties (or treatment functions) in May, 2025 and each pathway.
Subsections are presented as tabs below.
Figure 2.1: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Incomplete pathways with DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS North Region.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.2: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Incomplete pathways in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS North Region.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.3: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Completed pathways with DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS North Region.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
Figure 2.4: Boxplots of RTTI by medical specialty for Complete pathways with no DTA in May, 2025. Each point represents a provider in the NHS North Region.
Providers with RTTI larger than \(Q_3 + 1.5 IR\), where \(Q_3\) is the 3rd quartile and \(IR\) is the interquartile range of RTTI, are considered as “outliers”, i.e. they are providers with a very large RTTI, compared to the RTTI of the other providers, within the treatment function.
In the following table, the “outlying” providers are identified using the rule above. The table can be filtered by Provider and Treatment Function.
The following table contains medical specialties ranked by the regional (North Region) level RTTI on May, 2025. This is for NHS providers. The higher the rank the higher the RTTI. The number in brackets is the RTTI.
As can be seen, RTTI where there is a DTA is higher. Also, Elderly Medicine, General Internal Medicine, and Mental Health (except for incomplete pathways with a DTA) have some of the lowest waiting times (RTTI <1), at least in May, 2025.
On the other hand, Gynaecology, Oral Surgery and Ear Nose and Throat are among the medical specialties where waiting times are the longest as of May, 2025.
Alternatively, the information in the table can be displayed as follows
Figure 2.5: Ranking of medical specialties in the North Region. May, 2025
And for comparison with national level RTTI.
North Region level in blue;
National level in grey.
Figure 2.6: Ranking of medical specialties in the North Region. Gray bars represent the national level RTTI. May, 2025
Click on the white filter boxes, below the column names, to choose a region, provider or medical specialty.
Empty cells represent a missing value (no information about the provider for the medical specialty).
Low rank corresponds to low RTTI.
The table can be filtered. Click on the white boxes below the column names.
The lowest value RTTI can achieve is 0, which is achieved when no patients are waiting more than 20 weeks from referral to the start of their treatment. In this sense, 0 is the “target” value of RTTI. Observed values of RTTI are mostly positive and, when observed through time, it is desirable that the trend is decreasing towards zero.
The following table presents the values of RTTI in the last 6 months of available data. Hover with the mouse over the small plots for RTTI values. Maximum and Minimum values are coloured in orange. This table is intended to give a quick summary of the latest time trends. Further below are more detailed plots over a longer time period.
| Specialty | Incomplete DTA | Incomplete | Complete DTA | Complete No DTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | ||||
| Cardiothoracic Surgery | ||||
| Dermatology | ||||
| Ear Nose and Throat | ||||
| Elderly Medicine | ||||
| Gastroenterology | ||||
| General Internal Medicine | ||||
| General Surgery | ||||
| Gynaecology | ||||
| Neurology | ||||
| Neurosurgical | ||||
| Ophthalmology | ||||
| Oral Surgery | ||||
| Other - Medical | ||||
| Other - Mental Health | ||||
| Other - Other | ||||
| Other - Paediatric | ||||
| Other - Surgical | ||||
| Plastic Surgery | ||||
| Respiratory Medicine | ||||
| Rheumatology | ||||
| Trauma and Orthopaedic | ||||
| Urology |
In the following, time plots of RTTI, one for each treatment function (medical specialty), for each pathway, are shown.
There are 23 medical specialties, and RTTI for all providers in the North Region is shown, along with RTTI at national level, for comparison.
If the regional curve is below the national curve, that means the region’s performance is better than the national’s.
The following are time plots of RTTI for each of the 23 medical specialties (“Treatment Function”).
Hover with the mouse over plots for information about data points. Blue corresponds to the North Region. Grey corresponds to National level, for comparison.
Subsections (one for each pathway) are presented as tabs.
Figure 3.1: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.2: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.3: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.4: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.5: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.6: Time plot of monthly Gastroenterology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.7: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.8: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.9: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.10: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.11: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.12: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.13: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.14: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.15: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.16: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.17: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.18: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.19: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.20: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.21: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.22: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.23: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete DTA pathways.
Figure 3.24: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.25: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.26: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.27: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.28: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.29: Time plot of monthly Gastroenterology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.30: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.31: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.32: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.33: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.34: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.35: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.36: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.37: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.38: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.39: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.40: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.41: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.42: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.43: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.44: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.45: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.46: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI for the North Region. Incomplete pathways.
Figure 3.47: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.48: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.49: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.50: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.51: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.52: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI for the North Region. Completed pathways.
Figure 3.53: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Completed pathways.
Figure 3.54: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.55: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.56: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.57: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.58: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.59: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.60: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.61: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.62: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.63: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.64: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.65: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.66: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.67: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.68: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.69: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI for the North Region. Completed DTA pathways.
Figure 3.70: Time plot of monthly Cardiology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.71: Time plot of monthly Cardiothoracic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.72: Time plot of monthly Dermatology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.73: Time plot of monthly Ear Nose and Throat RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.74: Time plot of monthly Elderly Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.75: Time plot of monthly Gastroenterology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.76: Time plot of monthly General Internal Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.77: Time plot of monthly General Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.78: Time plot of monthly Gynaecology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.79: Time plot of monthly Neurology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.80: Time plot of monthly Neurosurgical RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.81: Time plot of monthly Ophthalmology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.82: Time plot of monthly Oral Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.83: Time plot of monthly Other - Medical RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.84: Time plot of monthly Other - Mental Health RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.85: Time plot of monthly Other - Other RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.86: Time plot of monthly Other - Paediatric RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.87: Time plot of monthly Other - Surgical RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.88: Time plot of monthly Plastic Surgery RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.89: Time plot of monthly Respiratory Medicine RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.90: Time plot of monthly Rheumatology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.91: Time plot of monthly Trauma and Orthopaedic RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.
Figure 3.92: Time plot of monthly Urology RTTI for the North Region. Completed No DTA pathways.